South Africa’s stories and storytellers recognised as SAFTA nominees announced

The 2026 SAFTA nominations highlight the talent driving South African film and television, recognising exceptional work across a wide range of genres and platforms. 

MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, received 225 nominations for content screened across DStv and Showmax. Of these, 142 nominations came from DStv owned channels, led by kykNET channels (74), Mzansi channels (33), M-Net (30) and SuperSport (5). A further 66 nominations were awarded to Showmax Originals. 

Third-party channels carried on DStv contributed an additional 17 nominations across various genres. Together with other nominated channels available on the platform, this reflects the breadth of local content audiences can watch in one place. 

“These nominations reflect the incredible work being made by storytellers across our industry. We’re proud to collaborate with creative teams who bring South African stories to life with such commitment and excellence. Congratulations to every nominee whose talent, collaboration and dedication continue to bring powerful South African stories to audiences at home,” says Nomsa Philiso, Director: Content and General Entertainment in English and Portuguese Africa, for the MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company. 

Mzansi Magic’s Ithonga is this year’s most-nominated telenovela. The Tshedza Pictures series is up for 10 SAFTAs, including Best Telenovela, Actress (first-time nominee Nelisiwe Sibiya), Supporting Actress (first-time nominee Zodwa Nkosi), and Actor (Bonko Khoza, who plays twins).  

Watch the trailer for iThonga

M-Net’s Reyka 2 is the most-nominated drama series. Quizzical Pictures’ crime drama is up for nine SAFTAs, including Best TV Drama, Directing (Catherine Cooke and Rea Rangaka), and Actress (Kim Engelbrecht). The first season was up for International Emmys for both TV Drama and Actress (Engelbrecht).  

Watch the trailer for Reyka S2

Reyka 2 is closely followed by another Quizzical Pictures crime series, White Lies, which is up for eight SAFTAs, including Best TV Drama.  

In the Best Documentary or Documentary Series category, M-Net’s Outside Lane and International Emmy nominee School Ties are up against Showmax’s Steinheist and the record-breaking Tracking Thabo Bester, as well as SuperSport’s International Emmy-nominated Chasing The Sun 2, about the Springboks’ latest World Cup victory. 

The Showmax Original The Fix is this year’s most-nominated movie. Crave Pictures’ dystopian body-horror is up for 11 SAFTAs, including Best Feature Film and Director (Kelsey Egan).  

Watch the trailer for The Fix

MultiChoice stars make a strong showing in this year’s Best Actor categories. In Telenovela, Champions’ Sello Maake ka Ncube earns a nomination, while the Comedy category features Magda Louw’s Hannes van Wyk alongside Pronk Primêr’s Pietie Beyers. 

Feature Films bring a mix of familiar and fresh faces, with David Isaacs nominated for Hier.Na, Louw Venter for Som van Twee, and first-time nominee Ayden Croy for Old Righteous Blues.

In TV Drama, Nêrens, Noord-Kaap’s Frank Opperman secures a nomination, joined by a posthumous nod for Presley Chweneyagae for his performance in Cobrizi. Rounding out the list, Binnelanders’ Hykie Berg represents the TV Soap category. 

June van Merch earns two nominations — Best Actress for Hier.Na and Best Supporting Actress for Die Kwiksilwers.

In Telenovela, Wyfie’s Celeste Loots celebrates her first nomination, while Desiré Gardner is recognised for Magda Louw in the TV Comedy category. TV Soap honours Binnelanders’ Jeani Swiegelaar, and Zenande Mfenyana represents Inimba in the Supporting Actress in a Telenovela category. 

The awards Shows will take place on 13 and 14 March 2026. The SAFTAs Craft awards show will be streamed live on the SAFTAs YouTube page and across Social media platforms on 13 March 2026. The Main awards show will be broadcast Mzansi Magic (Channel 161) 14 March 2026 following the red-carpet broadcast.  

Here is the full list of MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, nominees: 

Showmax 

Documentaries

• Best made for TV documentary - Steinheist
• Best made for TV documentary - Tracking Thabo Bester
• Best editing - Steinheist

Reality/variety

• Best structured soapie reality - Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap
• Best structured soapie reality - The Mommy Club: Sugar & Spice
• Best structured or docu-reality - Tiek Tok Boem!
• Best variety show - Unfollowed S2
• Best variety show - Untied 

Comedy

• Best makeup and hair - Mince Jou Hare
• Best wardrobe - Mince Jou Hare
• Best sound - Mince Jou Hare
• Best art direction - Mince Jou Hare
• Best editing - Mince Jou Hare
• Best scriptwriting - Mince Jou Hare
• Best cinematography - Mince Jou Hare
• Best directing - Mince Jou Hare
• Best supporting actress - Bianca Flanders
• Best supporting actress - LeeAnn van Rooi
• Best TV comedy - Mince Jou Hare  

Drama

• Best makeup and hair - Catch Me A Killer
• Best wardrobe - Red Ink
• Best art direction - Catch Me A Killer
• Best SFX/makeup - Spooksoeker
• Best original score - Koek
• Best VFX - Spooksoeker
• Best scriptwriting - Law, Love and Betrayal
• Best scriptwriting - Red Ink
• Best directing - Catch Me A Killer
• Best supporting actor - AJ Cullinan, Catch Me A Killer
• Best supporting actor - Jabulani Mthembu, Catch Me A Killer
• Best supporting actor - Kagiso Kuypers, Catch Me A Killer
• Best TV drama - Catch Me A Killer

Telenovela

• Best wardrobe - Reënboogrant
• Best editing - Youngins
• Best score - Reënboogrant
• Best score - Youngins
• Best sound - Youngins
• Best cinematography - Reënboogrant
• Best directing - Wyfie
• Best directing - Youngins
• Best supporting actor - Neo Ntlatleng, Empini
• Best actress - Celeste Loots, Wyfie
• Best telenovela - Youngins

 Feature films

• Best feature film - The Fix
• Best made for TV movie - Matilda en Matthys
• Best makeup and hair - The Butcher's Soul
• Best makeup and hair - The Fix
• Best costume - The Fix
• Best production design - The Fix
• Best SFX hair and makeup - The Butcher's Soul
• Best SFX hair and makeup - The Fix
• Best sound design - The Fix
• Best editing - The Fix
• Best original score - The Fix
• Best original song - The Butcher's Soul
• Best VFX - The Butcher's Soul
• Best VFX - The Fix
• Best cinematography - The Fix
• Best directing - The Fix

Public vote

• Best TV presenter - MaBlerh, RHOD
• Best TV presenter - Prince Spitch, Unfollowed S2
• Most popular telenovela - Empini
• Most popular telenovela - Reënboogrant
• Most popular telenovela - Wyfie
• Most popular telenovela - Youngins

Mzansi channels

Mzansi Magic

Best telenovela

• Inimba  
• iThonga 

Most popular TV soap/telenovela (public vote)

• Champions 
• Genesis 
• Gqeberha: The Empire 
• Inimba 
• iThonga 

Best competition reality show

• The Catch  

Best structured or docureality show

• Umkhonto Ogwazekhaya  

Best entertainment programme

• Her Story S2  

Best achievement in wardrobe - TV soap/telenovela

• Genesis  

Best achievement in art direction - TV soap/telenovela

• Inimba  

Best achievement in editing - telenovela

• Champions  
• iThonga  

Best achievement in original music/score - telenovela

• Champions  
• iThonga  

Best achievement in sound - telenovela

• Genesis
• iThonga

Best achievement in sound - telenovela

• Genesis 
• iThonga  

Best achievement in scriptwriting - telenovela

• Genesis
• Inimba

Best achievement in cinematography - telenovela

• Champions
• iThonga

Best supporting actress in a telenovela 

• Zenande Mfenyana — Inimba 
• Zodwa Nkosi — iThonga  

Best supporting actor in a telenovela

• Anele Matoti — Gqeberha: The Empire  

Best actress in a telenovela

• Nelisiwe Sibiya — iThonga  

Best actor in a telenovela

• Bonko Khoza — iThonga 
• Sello Maake kaNcube — Champions 

Best actor in a TV drama

• Presley Chweneyagae — Cobrizi 

Best achievement in an original song - telenovela

• Genesis S1  
• iThonga  

Best TV presenter (public vote)

• Wright Ngubeni — Umkhonto Ogwaza Ekhaya  

Mzansi Magic Music 

Best entertainment programme

• Yash’ingoma S3  

SuperSport

Best documentary

• Chasing the Sun 2 

Best editing

•  Chasing the Sun 2 

Best cinematography

• Chasing the Sun 2 

Best children's programme

• Let's Play Family Fitness Mornings 

Best presenter (public vote)

• Stacey Holland (Let's Play: Family Fitness Mornings) 

kykNET channels

kykNet

Documentary

• Best achievement in sound, documentary - Vergeet van My
• Best documentary short - Tussen die Draad en die Dropper

Reality and lifestyle

• Best competition reality show - Plaasjapie S2
• Best structured or docu-reality show - In Die Sop
• Best lifestyle programme - Elders: Ligtoringroete
• Best lifestyle programme - Spasie

Current affairs

• Best current affairs programme - In Gesprek met Lourensa Eckard
• Best current affairs programme - Wie's Nuus 

Entertainment and formats

• Best international format - Die Brug
• Best entertainment programme - Oppi Noot S1

TV comedy

• Best TV Comedy — Magda Louw S2  
• Best Achievement in Art Direction – TV Comedy — Pronk Primêr  
• Best Achievement in Editing – TV Comedy — Pronk Primêr  
• Best Achievement in Cinematography – TV Comedy — Pronk Primêr  
• Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Comedy — Magda Louw  
• Best Achievement in Directing – TV Comedy — Magda Louw  
• Best Supporting Actor in a TV Comedy — Tobie Cronjé (Pronk Primêr) 
• Best Actress in a TV Comedy — Desire Gardner (Magda Louw S2)  
• Best Actor in a TV Comedy — Hannes van Wyk (Magda Louw S2)  
• Best Actor in a TV Comedy — Pietie Beyers (Pronk Primêr)  

TV drama

• Best TV Drama — Niggies  
• Best Achievement in Make‑Up & Hairstyling – TV Drama — Die Nuusmakers  
• Best Achievement in Wardrobe – TV Drama — Niggies (Cousins)  
• Best Achievement in Art Direction – TV Drama — Niggies (Cousins) 
• Best Achievement in Sound – TV Drama — Niggies (Cousins)  
• Best Achievement in Original Music/Score – TV Drama — Niggies (Cousins)  
• Best Achievement in Original Music/Score – TV Drama — Een Keer Om Die Son  
• Best Achievement in Editing – TV Drama — Nêrens, Noord‑Kaap Deel 2  
• Best Achievement in Editing – TV Drama — Niggies (Cousins)  
• Best Achievement in Cinematography – TV Drama — Nêrens, Noord‑Kaap Deel 2  
• Best Achievement in Cinematography – TV Drama — Niggies (Cousins)  
• Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Drama — Die Nuusmakers  
• Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama — Marion Holm (Nêrens Noord‑Kaap Deel 2)  
• Best Actor in a TV Drama — Frank Opperman (Nêrens Noord‑Kaap Deel 2)  

Soap/telenovela

• Best TV Soap — Binnelanders  
• Best TV Soap — Suidooster 
•  Best Achievement in Make‑Up & Hairstyling – TV Soap/Telenovela — Suidooster 
• Best Achievement in Wardrobe – TV Soap/Telenovela — Diepe Waters  
• Best Achievement in Art Direction – TV Soap/Telenovela — Binnelanders  
• Best Achievement in Art Direction – TV Soap/Telenovela — Suidooster  
• Best Achievement in Sound – TV Soap/Telenovela — Binnelanders  
• Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Soap — Suidooster  
• Best Achievement in Directing – TV Soap — Suidooster  
• Best Supporting Actress in a TV Soap — Ilsé Klink (Suidooster)  
• Best Actress in a TV Soap — Je‑ani Swiegelaar (Binnelanders)  
• Best Actor in a TV Soap — Eugene Olof (Hykie) Berg (Binnelanders)   

Feature films

• Best Feature Film — Old Righteous Blues 
• Best Achievement in Editing – Feature Film — Hier.Na  
• Best Achievement in Editing – Feature Film — Old Righteous Blues 
• Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – Feature Film — Hier.Na 
• Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – Feature Film — Old Righteous Blues  
• Best Supporting Actress — Feature Film — June van Merch (Die Kwiksilwers)  
• Best Supporting Actress — Feature Film — Susanne Beyers  (Die Kwiksilwers) 
• Best Supporting Actor — Feature Film — Simon Bruinders (Old Righteous Blues)  
• Best Supporting Actor — Feature Film — James Borthwick (Som van Twee)  
• Best Actress — Feature Film — Lida Botha (Die Kwiksilwers)  
• Best Actress — Feature Film — June van Merch (Hier.Na) 
• Best Actor — Feature Film — Ayden Croy (Old Righteous Blues)  
• Best Actor — Feature Film — David Isaacs (Hier.Na)  
• Best Actor — Feature Film — Ian Roberts (A Kind of Madness)  
• Best Actor — Feature Film — Louw Venter (Som van Twee)  
• Best Achievement in Directing – Feature Film — Old Righteous Blues  

Animation 

• Best Animation — Die Groot Twis  

Short films

• Best Short Film - Marie Se Laaste Dag 
• Best Short Film – Liminale 

Best natural history and environment programme

• Bewonder & Bewaar met Bonné de Bod (Nature's Wonder & Conservation with Bonné de Bod) 

kykNET & Kie 

• Best Achievement in Make‑Up & Hairstyling – Telenovela — Skemergrond  
• Best Achievement in Original Song – Telenovela — Skemergrond  
• Most Popular TV Soap/Telenovela (Public Vote) — Arendsvlei  

Public vote

• Best TV Presenter (Public Vote) — Emo Adams (Oppi Noot S1)  
• Most Popular TV Soap/Telenovela — Binnelanders  
• Most Popular TV Soap/Telenovela — Diepe Waters  
• Most Popular TV Soap/Telenovela — Skemergrond  
• Most Popular TV Soap/Telenovela — Suidooster  
• Most Popular TV Soap/Telenovela (Public Vote) — Arendsvlei  

M-Net 

Documentary and current affairs

• Best Achievement in Sound – Documentary — Helderberg  
• Best Achievement in Cinematography – Documentary — School Ties  
• Best Achievement in Directing – Documentary — Helderberg  
• Best Made for TV Documentary / Series — Outside Lane  
• Best Made for TV Documentary / Series — School Ties  
• Best Current Affairs Programme — Carte Blanche  

TV drama

• Best Achievement in MakeUp & Hairstyling – TV Drama — Reyka S2  
• Best Achievement in MakeUp & Hairstyling – TV Drama — White Lies  
• Best Achievement in Wardrobe – TV Drama — Recipes for Love and Murder S2  
• Best Achievement in Wardrobe – TV Drama — White Lies — MNet 
• Best Achievement in Art Direction – TV Drama — Recipes for Love and Murder S2  
• Best Achievement in Art Direction – TV Drama — Reyka S2  
• Best Achievement in Special Effects (SFX) – TV — Reyka S2  
• Best Achievement in Special Effects (SFX) – TV — White Lies  
• Best Achievement in Sound – TV Drama — White Lies  
• Best Achievement in Original Music/Score – TV Drama — Reyka S2  
• Best Achievement in Original Music/Score – TV Drama — White Lies  
• Best Achievement in Original Song – TV Drama — Summertide  
• Best Achievement in Original Song  – TV Drama — White Lies  
• Best Achievement in Editing – TV Drama — Recipes for Love and Murder S2  
• Best Achievement in Editing – TV Drama — Reyka S2  
• Best Achievement in Editing – TV Drama — Summertide  
• Best Achievement in Cinematography – TV Drama — Reyka S2  
• Best Achievement in Directing – TV Drama — Reyka S2  
• Best Achievement in Directing – TV Drama — White Lies  
• Best TV Drama — Reyka S2  
• Best TV Drama — White Lies  

Performance

• Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama — Robyn Scott (Recipes For Love And Murder S2) 
• Best Actress in a TV Drama — Kim Engelbrecht (Reyka S2)  

Public vote

• Best TV Presenter (Public Vote) — Govan Albert Whittles (Carte Blanche)  

Third-party channels on DStv 

BET 

• Best SFX makeup - Pound 4 Pound
• Best soap/telenovela makeup - Queendom
• Best actor telenovela - Pallance Dladla
• Most popular telenovela - Queendom

Cape Town TV 

• Best youth programme - Eksê

Cartoon Network 

• Best makeup - The Lembwas S1
• Best wardrobe - The Lembwas S1

Disney Channel 

• Best children's programme - Wandi & Kabz

National Geographic  

• Best natural history - Day of the Dragon
• Best natural history - Killer Safari: Croc v Hippo

MTV Base 

• Best youth programme - On the Base Roundtable
• Best TV presenter (public vote) - Teboho Tsotetsi

VIA 

• Best educational programme - Geldhelde S5
• Best factual - Outopsie
• Best lifestyle - Die Uitdaging
• Best variety - Klanke van my Hart
• Best TV presenter (public vote) - Rozanne McKenzie, Geldhelde